Wall-type power-operated can opener



Jan. 30, 1962 E. 5. ROGERS ET AL WALL-TYPE POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1960 INVENTORS. Ezra 5'. E0

BY Faber AT ORA/5K United States Patent 3,018,548 WALL-TYPEPOWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER Ezra S. Rogers, Parkville, and Robert J.Scott, Blue Springs, Mo., assignors to John C. Hockery, Independence,Mo.

Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,520 7 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) This inventionrelates to power-operated can openers and refers more particularly toone in which the power drive is actuated by the lever arm which engagesthe cutter and feed wheels with the can, the power drive being actuatedwhen a certain degree of pressure is applied to the can just before itis cut.

This invention is an improvement over the application of Frank E.Aberer, Serial No. 2,442, filed January 14, 1960, for Wall-TypePower-Operated Can Opener, issued as US. Patent 2,994,953 on August 8,1961.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a power-operated canopener with a simple, positive, powerful lever action for engaging andinitially cutting the top of the can, with an additional assist to thecutting operation from the power source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can openerwhich trips the power source or motor both to rotate the engaged can andcut it, the power source actuation prior to and in aid of the puncturingof the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can openerwhich is exceedingly simple in construction, relatively cheap tomanufacture, rugged and able to withstand long operation and use withoutnecessity for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructedpower-operated can opener which is easy to disassemble and wherein allof the parts are readily accessible for cleaning, replacement or repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can openerwherein the lever which manipulates the cutting and can feeding wheelsrelative to one another in the can opening operation also actuates, whenmoved to a certain can engaging position less than that positionactually puncturing the can, the power driving apparatus for automaticcutting of the can whereby to aid the puncturing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can openerwherein the arm which actuates the power drive is normally resilientlybiased away from the on position whereby certain release of operatorforce thereon after actuation automatically switches oif the powerdrive, yet a switch action is provided which will maintain the powerdrive on during the entire can cutting operation, without an initialturn-off between the power operation before puncturing, the puncturingstep itself or the power operation after puncture.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and areto be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention areshown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicatelike parts.

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of the upper end of the can openeremploying the invention with the actuating arm at a first position ofengagement (prepuncture) between the cutting and feeding wheels with thecan to be cut therebetween.

FIG. 2 is a partial right-hand side view of the can opener of FIG. 1with the parts in the same relative position.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the can opener of .FIGS. 1 and 2 withthe actuating arm at the extreme "ice closed position whereby tomaximally engage the cutter and feed wheels.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the entire power-operated can opener of theprevious figures with a portion of a worm gear cut away to betterillustrate the arrangement of the parts, the view showing the actuatingarm and associated parts in the relationship assumed when a can is firstengaged between the cutter and feed wheel before application of force toinitially pierce the can, that posltion being the same as shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the upper portion of the can opener ofFIG. 4 (but with the worm gear and motor drive shaft removed) showingthe relationship assumed by the actuating arm and associated parts whenforce just short of that necessary to pierce the can is applied.

FIG. 6 is a rear view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing therelationship of the actuating arm and associated parts immediately afterpiercing of the can. The power switch is actuated in both FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section through the can opener of FIG. 4 alongthe line 77 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6 in the direction ofthe arrows.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a frame or housing is providedhaving front plate or wall 10, side walls 11 and 12, top wall 13 andbottom wall 14. A rear cover of one type or another is furnished, butdoes not form a part of the instant invention or a part of the frameworkupon which the operating parts are hung. Both side walls, top wall andbottom wall are fixed to or integral with the front plate or wall 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 particularly, a recessed slideway 15 isformed in the front wall or plate 10. Top wall 13 overlies the upper endof the slideway 15 while a ledge 16 underlies the lower end of theslideway. A pair of slots 17 and 18 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) extend throughthe floor of the slideway 15.

Slide 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is of only slightly lesser width than theslideway 15 whereby to slide in precisp fashion therein, while itslength is that distance less than the total length of the slideway whichit is desired that the cutter and feed wheels be movable apart. Slot 20is formed through slide 19 substantially centrally thereof and runsvertically therein. Cutter wheel 21 is mounted so that its lower edge iscanted inwardly toward the slide 19 in well-known fashion by securing itto an angled post 21a by nut 22. The post is mounted on an outwardlyflared portion 23 of the slide 19. Conventional posts 24 and 25 aremounted on each side of the cutter wheel 21 whereby to properly positionthe can edge for the cutting operation. These posts are fixed to theslide 19 and extend outwardly therefrom alongside the cutter wheel. Anopening 26 is formed through slide 19 above the cutter wheel to receivea shaft to be described. A shelf 27 projecting at right angles to theslide outer face extends from the lower edge of the slide immediatelybelow the cutter wheel 21 and slot 20 whereby to properly position thebody of a can angularly relative to the wheels engaging it in theprocess of cutting the can. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, rearwardlyextending posts 28 and 29 having enlarged heads are fixed to the rearface of slide 19, extend through slots 17 and 18, respectively, and havewashers 28a and 29a mounted thereon to receive in abutment one end ofcompression springs 28b and 29b which also abut against washers 28c and29c lying against the rear face of slide recess 15. Washers 28c and 290slide against the rear face of slideway 15 in vertical up and downmotion of slide 19, springs 28!) and 29b maintaining the lower portionof slide 19 in sliding abutment with the slideway 15.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, an opening 30 in theslideway 15 receives a cylindrical bearing 31 fixedly therein. Opening30 is defined by rearward extension 30a of slideway 15 which alsofixedly receives bearing 31 in recess 30b thereof. Bearing 31 extendsforwardly beyond the face of slideway 15 and is received in slot 20 ofslide 19 to an outward extension substantially that of the front face ofslide 19. Thus, up and down movement of slide 19 is limited both byimpingement upon the upper wall 13 and lower shelf 16 and theimpingement of the upper and lower ends of slot 20 upon hearing 31.

A drive shaft 32 is rotatably received within bearing 31 and extension30a and has feed wheel 33 removably threaded upon the front end thereofwhich extends adjacent slide 19 and worm gear 34 removably fixed to theother end thereof. The front face of spur gear 34 is adjacent to therear end of extension 30a, spaced by washer 34a therefrom, and asuitable spring 34b abutting the front face of gear 34 may be providedto resiliently retain the feed wheel in frictional sliding contact withthe front end of bearing 31. The teeth of worm gear 34 are engaged by aworm 35 on drive shaft 36 driven by a suitable electric motor or otherpower source 37 mounted at an angle on platform 38 supported by lowerwall 14, engaged by flange 39 secured by screws 40 to front wall 10. Theelectric lines from the motor are not shown, but they are conventional.

A shaft 41 (FIG. 8) is received in previously-mentioned opening 26 inslide 19 where it is fixed to the slide and vertically movabletherewith. Shaft 41 extends through a slot 42 formed in the floor ofslideway 15. A first lever arm 43 extending essentially transverse tothe vertical center of front wall has an opening 43a (FIG. 8) throughwhich extends shaft 41 to a distance therepast in the rearwarddirection. A washer 44 retained by the enlarged rear head of shaft 41confines a compression spring 45 between the front face of the washer 44and the rear face of first lever arm 43, thus biasing lever arm 43toward the front plate or wall 10. This resilient bias forces the firstlever arm 43 against a pair of bars 46 and 47 formed rearwardly from thefloor of slideway on the rear face thereof.

Thus it is seen that the slide 19 in slideway 15 is resiliently butyieldably retained against the slideway front face or surface by theaction of spring 45 on shaft 41 and by the action of springs 28b and 29bon washers 28c and 290 engaging the rear face of slideway 15 in asliding motion.

The left-hand end of first lever arm 43 (as seen in FIG. 4) has spurgear teeth 43b formed therein. Slot 48 is formed in the right-hand endof first lever arm 43 as seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 4 to receive stud or rod49 attached to front wall 10, the rear face thereof. Openmg 50 in theright-hand end of first lever arm 43 receives one end of tension coilspring 51, the other end thereof being hooked around stud 52 also fixedto the rear face of wall 10.

Actuating arm or second lever arm 53 comprises a flat piece of material,preferably metal, which is pivotally mounted on bolt 54, the latterbeing received in an internally threaded opening (not shown) on the rearside of front wall 10. Arm or lever 53 lies to the rear or in back offirst lever arm 43. It is also received in slot 55 which extendsentirely across the top wall 13 and down side walls 11 and 12, thelatter to a lesser extent, the former to (l) the extent required by theposition in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and (2) also a greater extent to permitinsertion of the can between the feed and cutter wheels. Flange 56extends at right angles to lever arms 53 and, when in the positions ofFIGS. 5, 6 and 8, extends in a substantially horizontal orientation.Fixed to the front side of second lever or actuating arm 53 is a metalflange piece 57 which has spur gear teeth 58 formed thereon so as toengage spur gear teeth 43b on first lever arm 43. Teeth 58 are soarranged that, whenthe second lever arm 53 is rotated or pivoted in acom-- terclockwise direction in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it raises theleft-handend of first lever arm 43 in the same VlCWS and lowers the same inclockwise rotation in the same views.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pair of rod-like extensions 59 and 60 are formedintegral with or fixedly attached to side walls 11 and 12, inwardlythereof, whereby to form a pair of projections operable to receive sheet61. The latter is configured to fit closely inside the upper ends ofwalls 11 and 12 and the underside of wall 13 rearwardly of slot 55.Stops 59a and 60a serve to limit the forward extension of sheet 61.Flange 62 extends downwardly and then horizontally to the rear toreceive switch platform 63 in horizontal position thereon. Fixed to therear face of lever 43 is flange 64 carrying rearwardly extending arm 65which underlies the right-hand side of switch platform 63 in the view ofFIG. 4.

The switch mechanism comprises a contact arm 66 fixed to the right-handside of switch platform 63 and comprising, in the view of FIG. 4, anS-shaped member having the top leg of the S fixed to the platform andthe lower leg of the 8 extending to the left in FIG. 4. A conventionalelectric connection is made between arm 66 and motor 37, not shown.Angle 67, fixed to the left underside of platform 63 pivotally mountsactuating arm 68 in the downwardly extending leg thereof and has thehorizontal leg thereof fixed to platform 63. Contact arm 69 is pivotedat its left-hand end in FIG. 4 on the downwardly extending leg of angle67 and has a contact on its other end extending downwardly adapted tomake and break electrical contact with member 66 according to motion ofarm 69. On its upper side is a stop adapted to position arm 69 aparticular distance away from its contact point on member 66. A spring70 is connected at its left-hand end to the left-hand end of actuatingarm 68 in FIG. 4 and at its right-hand end centrally of contact arm 69.

The manner of operation of the switch may be seen by contrasting FIGS. 4and 5. In FIG. 4, the switch actuating arm 68 is at such a downwardposition that spring 70 biases the contact arm 69 upwardly against theupper stop on the underside of platform 63 whereby to break electricalcontact. There is another conventional electrical contact between angle67 and motor 37 to provide a complete circuit through the switch whenarm 69 contacts member 66. When right-hand end of actuating arm 68 (inFIG. 4) is moved upwardly a certain distance by arm 65, the portionthereof on the left-hand side (in FIG. 4) of the pivot on member 67, bymeans of spring 70, biases contact arm 69 downwardly to the position ofFIG. 5 to complete electrical contact through the switch and start motor37. When the right-hand side of actuating arm 68 (in the view of FIG, 4)moves downwardly to a certain position, spring 70 snaps actuating arm 69upwardly to break the contact and stop motor 37. The switch mechanismshown is conventional and does not by itself or per se comprise theinstant invention.

The basic operating positions and actions are as follows, the operationdescribed therewith:

1) With the view taken from the rear as in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, and withthe actuating or second lever arm 53 in a position even further to theright in FIG. 1 and to the left in FIG. 4 than that shown, the engagedspur gears between the two lever arms will have moved the engaged (leftin FIG. 4 view) end of the first lever arm 43 up as far as possible,thus moving the slide-lever engaging shaft 41 to the top of slot 42 andmoving slide plate 19 to the top of channel or slideway 15. At theopposite end of first lever arm 43, stud 49 and the top of slot 48firmly engage, with spring 51 pulling that end of the arm firmlydownwardly. Thus, from the view of FIG. 4, the right end of the firstlever arm 43 is as low as possible, the left end thereof is nearly ashigh as possible, slide 19 is nearly at its uppermost position andcutter wheel 21 is free of feed wheel 33 to receive a can.

(2) The second position involves motion of the actuating or second leverarm 53 from the previously described position (not illustrated) to thatof FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, with a can engaged. This position, best seen inFIGS. 1 and 2 as to the can engagement, involves no penetration orcutting of the can, merely the positioning of it between the cutter andfeed wheels ready for the puncturing and cutting operations. For theoperator to move the arm 53 further toward the top wall 13 will involvegreater application of force than mere free movement.

(3) In FIG. 3, arm 53 is seen in the position it would take without acan between the cutter and feed wheel when the first lever arm, byaction of the engaged spur gears 57 and 43b is moved downwardly to theposition where the top of slot 20 in the slide plate 19 abuts thebearing 31 and the bottom of slide plate 19 abuts shelf 16. This is aslow as slide plate 19 can go.

(4) Looking at FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,- in FIG. 4 is seen the position ofsecond lever arm 53 when a can rim has just been engaged between and bycutter wheel 21 and feed wheel 33. First lever arm 43 has been geareddownwardly from its previously described extreme upward position of theleft end thereof to an intermediate position, while insufficient forcehas been applied to the engaged can to cause the right-hand end of arm43 to rise against tension of spring 51. FIG. 5 then shows the positionto which it is probable that (a) the actuating arm 53 may rotateclockwise and (b) first lever arm 43 may rise on the right-hand sidethereof against tension of spring 51 before the can actually is pierced.This is due to the resistance of the metal top of the can to cutterwheel 21 and varies somewhat according to the sharpness of the cutterwheel, the metal of the can top, etc.

(5) FIG. 6 shows the next stage with the can actually pierced withoperator hand pressure maintained at the same level. The right-hand endof first engaging lever 43 has dropped a limited distance so that stud49 is approximately central of the length of slot 48 under action ofspring 51, while the actuating arm 53 has dropped a slight amount towardplate 13. Despite these small changes, the switch is so designed andinstalled that contact and motor operation are maintained.

(6) The dynamics of operation of arm 43 are as follows: (a) With no canengaged or engageable between the cutter and feed wheels, oscillation ofthe main lever arm 53 in counterclockwise and clockwise direction inFIG. 4 serves to alternatively move the left-hand side of the lever arm(in FIG. 4 view) upwardly and downwardly. This causes the cutter wheeland slide to move upwardly and downwardly also. (b) When a can isengaged as in FIGS. 1 and 2, further clockwise rotation of lever arm 53in the view of FIG. 4 does not further lower the left-hand side of arm43 alone as a fulcrum is provided at shaft 41 since slide 19 is fixed inposition until the can is punctured. Thus, in addition to the left-handend of lever 43 moving downwardly, the right-hand end of lever arm 43moves upwardly around the fulcrum of shaft 41. As the actuating arm 68of the switch is already (and always) in contact with arm 65, themovement of the right-hand end of arm 43 to a position where stud 49 isintermediate slot 48 actuates the power source through the switch, thusdriving feed wheel 33 to aid in puncturing the can. Shortly after themotor starts operating and presumably before the right-hand end of lever43 rises much further, the can is punctured, which has two effects. Inthe first place, the slide 19 can drop downwardly due to the puncturingof the can, thus dropping the shaft 41 therewith and lowering thefulcrum previously mentioned. This in turn drops at least slightly theright-hand end of the lever 43. The latter would tend to disconnect theswitch except for two factors. In the first place, the switch isdesigned to go to the on position on only a very slight rise of theactuating arm 68 and, secondly, the

hand force applied by the operator tends to continue the downward motionof the left-hand end of lever 43 thus tending to raise the right-handend thereof around the new lower fulcrum. Thus the power actuationcontinues until the can is cut.

(7) Release of the actuating arm 53 permits the action of spring 51 topull the right side of first lever arm 43 downwardly, thus gearing upthe upper actuating arm to slightly above the position of FIG. 5 if thecan is still engaged.

(8) Vertical irregularities in the can rim encountered during cutting ofthe can, when the feed wheel drives the rim of the can in cuttingengagement with the cutter wheel, are compensated for by verticalmovement of the can cutter wheel, slide 19 upon which it is mounted, andfirst lever arm 43 through its right-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 46,against the action of spring 51. Shaft 41 connected to the rear face ofslide 19 moves vertically in slot 42, in this action. The cutter wheelbeing of the form shown in Aberer Power-Operated Can Opener, Patent No.2,902,757, September 8, 1959, has a rearward portion thereof, best seenin FIGS. 2 and 8, which rides on the top edge of the can rim. Limited inand out movement of cutter wheel 21 and, thus, plate 19, to compensatefor in and out variation in the can rim while the can is being cut, isprovided by virtue of the hinge mounting of plate 19, with its lower endsecured by posts 28 and 29 in slots 17 and 18 and the resilient mountingof post 41 which is attached to the rear face of plate 19 at one end andhas resilient spring 45 mounted on the other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a power-operated can opener, a plate having front and rear facesand upper and lower ends, a substantially vertical slideway formed inthe front face of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adaptedto move vertically therein, a bearing received in and extending throughan opening through said plate and having a portion thereof extendingthrough a slot in said slide, a drive shaft rotatably received in saidbearing and extending entirely therethrough, a feed wheel on the end ofsaid drive shaft next to said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted onsaid slide for vertical movement therewith, means for driving said driveshaft positioned adjacent to said plate, a first lever arm mounted onthe rear side of said plate, a slide-lever engaging shaft extendingthrough a slot in said plate, attached to the slide at one end thereof,and connected to the first lever arm substantially centrally thereof, asecond lever arm, means mounting the second lever arm on the rear faceof said plate for pivotal movement around one end thereof adjacent oneend of the first lever arm, means engaging the pivotal end of the secondlever arm with the adjacent end of the first lever arm whereby pivotalmovement of the second arm in one direction raises the engaged end ofthe first lever arm and pivotal movement in the opposite directionlowers the engaged end of the first lever arm, and actuating meansoperated by the first lever arm for starting and stopping said drivingmeans.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises aswitch operated by means connected to said lever arm on the other sideof said slide connection thereto from the engagement thereof with thefirst lever arm.

3. In a power-operated can opener, a frame, said frame including anormally vertical front plate and normally horizontally top wall, saidfront plate having front and rear faces and upper and lower ends, theupper end of said front plate connected to said horizontal top wall, asubstantially vertical slideway formed in the front face of said plate,a slide received in said slideway adapted to move vertically therein, abearing received in and extending through an opening through said plateand having a portion thereof extending through a slot in said slide, adrive shaft rotatably received in said bearing and extending entirelythrough said bearing, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft nextto said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said slide forvertical movement therewith, means for driving said drive shaftpositioned adjacent to said plate, means for moving said slide andcutter wheel up and down relative to said shaft and .feed wheel, saidmoving means including an actuating arm having a portion thereofreceived in a slot through said horizontal top wall and a lever armconnected to said slide substantially centrally thereof, actuating meansincluding a switch next the front plate rear face and below the topwall, said switch having an actuating arm spring-biased to the normaloff position, and means connected to Said lever arm for operating theswitch actuating arm.

4. In a power-operated can opener, a plate having front and rear facesand upper and lower ends, a substantially vertical slideway formed inthe front face of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adaptedto move vertically therein, a bearing received in and extending throughan opening through said plate and having a portion thereof extendingthrough a slot in said slide, a drive shaft rotatably received in saidbearing and extending entirely therethrough, a feed wheel on the end ofsaid drive shaft next to said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted onsaid slide for vertical movement therewith, means for driving said driveshaft positioned adjacent to the rear face of said plate, a first leverarm, a slide-lever engaging shaft extending through a slot in saidplate, attached to the slide at one end thereof, and connected to thefirst lever arm substantially centrally thereof, resilient means biasingone end of the first lever arm on one side of the slide-lever engagingshaft normally downwardly, means limiting the downward movement of thefirst lever arm under action of said resilient biasing means, means foralternately raising and lowering the end of the first lever arm on theother side of said slide-lever shaft from said resilient biasing means,and actuating means operated by said first lever arm for starting andstopping said driving means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means on the first lever armbetween the resilient biasing means and slidelever engaging shaft foroperating said actuating means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the means limiting the downwardmovement of the first leve-r arm under action of the resilient biasingmeans comprises a slot in the first lever arm on the end thereof biaseddownwardly and means on the rear side of the plate extending into thesaid slot.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein a top plate is fixed to the upper endof the first mentioned plate and extends normally horizontallytherebehind, and the actuating means operated by the first lever arminclude a switch fixed relative to the under side of said top plate andmeans on said first lever arm below said top plate to work said switch.

No references cited.

